title: A helicopter emergency medical service may allow faster access to highly specialised care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Centralization of the hospital system entails longer transport for some patients. A physician-staffed helicopter may provide effective triage, advanced management and fast transport to highly specialized treatment for time-critical patients. The aim of this study was to describe activity and possible beneficial effect of a physician-staffed helicopter in a one-year trial period in eastern Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study of all missions related to a daylight operating, physician-staffed helicopter. We recorded information about the activity during 12 months, focusing on dispatchment, diagnoses, medical interventions, admission patterns and 30-day mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 574 missions resulting in 609 patient contacts. Activity ranged from 22 to 76 missions per month. The helicopter was grounded 6% of its operating time, mainly due to weather conditions. The primary patient categories were trauma (43.5%) and cardiac disease (26.1%). The physician acted as Medical Incident Officer at three major incidents. A total of 53 endotracheal intubations, 13 intraosseous cannula insertions and four tube thoracostomies were performed. The median hospital length-of-stay was four days, 30-day mortality was 6.1% and 86 patients were transferred to intensive care units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physician-staffed helicopter had approximately two missions per day the first year, mainly in relation to trauma and cardiac patients needing specialized treatment. Advanced medical interventions were commonly performed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Funded by Trygfonden.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet. monika_afzali@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzali
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hesselfeldt
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Annemarie Bondegaard
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Lars S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004630:Emergencies; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult